1052 : GEOLOGY OF OHIO. ‘ 
not much exceed the former figure. -The sandstone comes down close 
upon the coal, and the hill under which it is mined is very heavy. The 
floor is somewhat irregular, but the seam has its usual persistency and 
steadiness. A considerable acreage has-been worked out. Mining has 
been suspended here for several years. | 
There is no reason to doubt that all of this seam in the county that 
is 3 feet and over in thickness will be called for in time to come, but it 
is quite possible that it cannot be brought into successful competition 
with the thicker and more easily mined seams of adjoining fields at the 
present time. | 
The fact that the Sheridan mine is not now producing coal will 
account for the analysis of the seam being wanting at this point. 
THe FREEPORT COALS. 
Under this head the two remaining seams of the Lower Measures 
of Lawrence and Gallia counties will be briefly noted. One of these 
seams has already been brought into account, incidentally, as it is found 
in some of the western townships of Gallia county (see page 1028). 
The Lower Freeport Coal, Coal No. 6a. 
This seam is known in Lawrence county as the Hatcher coal. It 
lies 40 to 60 feet above the Middle Kittanning coal. It is fairly steady 
through a considerable territory, particularly to the east and north of 
Ironton. In thickness, at its best, it ranges between 3 and 4 feet. Its 
quality is fair. Whether it can support shipping mines successfully, 
under present conditions, has not been determined by actual experiment, 
but the probabilities are not favorable to such a result. This seam has 
not, at least, been turned to such account at any point on the western 
side of the coal field. It furnishes a fair amount of coal for neighbor- 
hood use, and will long serve this not unimportant end. It promises 
more in Lawrence county than in any of the counties of the western 
margin of the field. 
Tor Upper FREEPORT COAL. 
The Waterloo Field. 
A basin of this coal that promises to take rank with the best de- 
posits of Upper Freeport age in the State is to be found in parts of 
Walnut, Symmes and Aid townships of Gallia and Lawrence counties. 
